Frankie Librán
{{short description|Puerto Rican baseball player (1948–2013)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{family name hatnote|Librán|Rosas|lang=Spanish}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
| name =Francisco Librán
| image =Frankie Libran Padres.jpg
| caption =
| position = Shortstop
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1948|05|06}}
| birth_place = Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2013|05|16|1948|05|06}}
| death_place = Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
| bats =Right
| throws = Right
|debutleague = MLB
| debutdate =September 3
| debutyear =1969
| debutteam =San Diego Padres
|finalleague = MLB
| finaldate =September 28
| finalyear =1969
| finalteam =San Diego Padres
|statleague = MLB
| stat1label = Batting average
| stat1value =.100
| stat2label =Home runs
| stat2value =0
| stat3label =Runs batted in
| stat3value =1
| teams =
- San Diego Padres ({{by|1969}})}}
Francisco Librán Rosas (May 6, 1948{{snd}}May 16, 2013) was a Puerto Rican athlete who distinguished himself for performing professionally on all three major sports in the island (baseball, basketball, volleyball). Most notably, Librán played as an infielder in Major League Baseball during the late 60s. He batted and threw right-handed, and was listed at {{convert|6|ft|abbr=on}} tall and {{convert|168|lb|abbr=on}}. Librán also practiced track and field, and softball. Because of his versatility, he is usually referred to as "the most complete Puerto Rican athlete". He is survived by his two daughters Yeidie J. Librán and Yara E. Librán.
Early life and education
Librán was born in 1948 in Mayagüez, and was raised at the Franklin D. Roosevelt housing project. He started practicing sports when he was 10 years old. Librán studied at the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico, where he competed for the Liga Atlética Interuniversitaria de Puerto Rico.{{cite news|url=http://www.elnuevodia.com/falleceelexatletafranciscolibran-1512728.html|title=Fallece el exatleta Francisco Librán|work=El Nuevo Día|author=Figueroa, Alex|date=May 16, 2013|access-date=May 17, 2013|archive-date=June 8, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130608141542/http://www.elnuevodia.com/falleceelexatletafranciscolibran-1512728.html|url-status=dead}}
Sports career
During his career as an athlete, Librán distinguished himself for practicing several sports. He played for the Vaqueros de Bayamón of the Puerto Rico volleyball league, and in 1965 played for the Atléticos de San Germán of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional. He also practiced track and field and high jump.
However, Librán became more known for his career as a baseball player. Although he played mostly as a shortstop, he could also play second and third base. In 1965, while also playing basketball, Librán helped the Patrulleros de San Sebastián of the Doble A Baseball League in Puerto Rico to win the championship. He also played with San Juan, Arecibo, and Caguas in the Puerto Rico Professional Baseball League.
In 1968, Librán was signed by the Chicago Cubs of the Major League Baseball, and spent that season split between two Class A Cub affiliates. While a member of the Cubs' Double-A San Antonio Missions team, he was traded along with Joe Niekro and Gary Ross to the expansion San Diego Padres for Dick Selma on April 24, 1969.[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35634286/the-record-hackensack-new-jersey25/ "Selma Traded For 3 Players," The Associated Press (AP), Friday, April 25, 1969.] Retrieved June 9, 2020 He remained with the Missions all season and was added to the San Diego roster after September 1.
Librán made his Major League debut as a shortstop in the {{baseball year|1969}} season. In his debut game, Librán went hitless in two at bats against Woodie Fryman of the Philadelphia Phillies.[http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1969/B09030SDN1969.htm 1969-9-3 box score from Retrosheet] Thirteen days later, he collected his only major league hit, an RBI-double off Tom Griffin of the Houston Astros.[http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1969/B09160SDN1969.htm 1969-9-16 box score from Retrosheet] Librán played in ten games as a Major Leaguer.
After suffering a knee injury, Librán was sent to the minor leagues, where he played for two more years. He left the game after the 1971 campaign. Despite this injury, Librán continued to play in Puerto Rico for teams like Senadores de San Juan, Lobos de Arecibo, Criollos de Caguas, and Indios de Mayagüez.{{cite news|url=http://www.sistematv.com/_blog/Charla_Deportiva/post/Francisco_Libr%C3%A1n/#sthash.HYXzXsna.dpuf|title=Francisco Librán; el deportista más completo de Puerto Rico|work=Sistema TV|author=Branchizio, Violeta}}
After retiring from baseball, Librán played softball for Mayagüez from 1977 to 1987.
Later years and death
After retiring from sports, Librán completed his college studies in education, and worked for 23 years for the Puerto Rico Department of Housing in Mayagüez.
Librán died on May 16, 2013, due to complications from a surgery as a result of his condition of diabetes. His body was exposed at Martell Funeral Home in Mayagüez, and buried at Vivaldi Cemetery in Mayagüez. Francisco Librán is survived by his two daughters Yeidie J. Librán and Yara E. Librán.
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Baseballstats|br=l/librafr01}}
- [http://www.elnuevodia.com/falleceelexatletafranciscolibran-1512728.html El Nuevo Dia (obituary)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130608141542/http://www.elnuevodia.com/falleceelexatletafranciscolibran-1512728.html |date=2013-06-08 }} (Spanish)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Libran, Frankie}}
Category:Lodi Crushers players
Category:Major League Baseball players from Puerto Rico
Category:Major League Baseball shortstops
Category:Memphis Blues players
Category:San Antonio Missions players
Category:San Diego Padres players